17 Year Old Canadian Wanted For Killing Ghanaian Immigrant

Canadian Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a 17 year old suspect in connection with a brazen shooting that claimed the life of a Ghanaian woman and injured a man in downtown Hamilton. In a statement released on Sunday, the Hamilton Police Service identified the suspect as Mackale Lavoie. He is wanted for second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in relation to the incident which occurred on Friday, July 11 at approximately 5:25 p.m. According to police, Lavoie allegedly encountered a group of three individuals in the city’s downtown area and opened fire striking one of his intended targets.

During the continued gunfire, 26 year old Belinda Sarkodie, a bystander from Ghana, was fatally shot. The male suspect opened fire, striking one of the individuals, the statement said. As he continued to shoot at a second person, an innocent bystander 26 year old Belinda Sarkodie was fatally struck.”Emergency services responded to the scene at the intersection of King Street East and James Street North, which police described as chaotic and distressing. One male victim, identified only as a white man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while Sarkodie was found further west along King Street with critical gunshot wounds.

Despite life-saving efforts, she was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene, police confirmed.  At a press briefing on Detective Sergeant John Obrovac revealed that Ms Sarkodie had only recently moved to Canada from Ghana in 2024 and was living and working in the Hamilton area. Det. Sgt. Obrovac stated that Sarkodie’s brother, who lives in Manitoba has been informed, and that her next-of-kin in Ghana have also been notified of her death. Investigators believe the male victim was known to the suspect, although a motive has not yet been established.